IowaBill

If I didn't think I was important, no one would Merry Christmas AD, turn up the heat. It seems as if your sense of goodwill is frozen up the white north.

No question, it's out there. Merry Christmas to AD, CTM, and you too VABills. Hopefully liberals, conservatives, fence sitters, and contrarians can all agree on one thing, it's OK to disagree. I enjoy reading the responses on this board, and on rare occaisons, when they are clever and well thought, they are cause for amusement. Life is too short to get pissed off reading a internet board. AD, I'd be lieing if I said I frequntly agreed with you, respected your point of view, or have ever found your posts amusing or original. I always read them, however. Happy holidays everybody, and good will towards all.

Is that "pudding" anything like the "pudding eating gay cowboys" from Brokeback Mountain, AKA The CTM & AD Story??????

I'd go along with all that. Don't forget your fascination with "defense publications porn". Your post does count CTM, although between you and AD, you guys have about 5 -6 "stock responses", so the value of each of those responses tends to diminish as their frequency increases.

Elucidation is beyond AD's ken. He focuses on sarcasm and "that makes Democrats different from Republicans how???" type responses. He is, however, the very model of consistency, and he is better at this than Bruce Mathison was at QB'ing the Bills.

Cincy, You are trying to have a discussion with a guy whose idea of quality porn is Janes Defense publications, a guy that has stated he knew more than the professors in college so he didn't pursue a Phd. (As person that did pursue a Phd, sucessfully, I can't begin to tell you how many times I have heard that from people that couldn't hack it), a guy that has stated how smart he is because he has been published in some sort of peer review journal, a guy who spends most of his keystrokes telling everybody how smart he thinks he is. My guess is that a reasonable discussion with him is not going to happen.

It is more than unlikely............Frank Reich is a recent graduate of a theological seminary in Charlotte , NC and is a newly ordained minister. He was just named the president of that seminary, a fullt ime professional position, not unlike that of a college president. Given his seemingly strong committment to a religous life and profession, I think he would be uninterested in coaching an NFL team at this point in his ;life, he obviously has other gaols in life. Good for him.

Regarding your OPTIONS, perhaps you shouldn't limit to either ignoring a tantrum, or grabbing a childs arm and giving him / her a "death glare". Removing the child from the situation (taking the child to the car and sitting with him / her until the "tantrum" has run its course) should probably be the first OPTION chosen. Why??? it removes the annoyance from the other patrons of the business, and it removes the child from being the center of attention, whcih may be a big part of what they want, and it removes your reinforcement of the childs behavior by reposnding to it in a attention attracting manner (death glare!). Why isn't this OPTION chosen more often???? because it is inconvenient to the parents. Things being "inconvenient" to parents is probably the root cause of much of what has been discussed on this thread.

100 - 1 Couldn't tell you, it is 85 degrees outside. (St. Croix, USVI)

I get it, you don't like polls. I don't think we will ever agree on an altrenative method then of determining the interests or ideas of the general public, or at least the voting public. If you can suggest a different way of determining such things, lets hear it. If we don't at least try to determine what the voting public wants, the we will have an elitist ruling class system. I can't believe you think that is a good idea either. I we are going to have a government "by the people, for the people, etc", lets at least find out what "the people" think. Congratulations on being better at "this stuff" (whatever that may be) than Bruce Mathison was at football. Lofty standards, indeed.

I wouldn't disagree with you regarding the lack of sophistication on the part of people that are "sampled". Those people do make up the general public and body politic. If pollsters were to screen respondents they may get different answers, but they wouldn't be any more accurate regarding how people feel on a certain topic. further, who would set the standards for "sophistication". the whoel thing smacks of elitism, whcich is a crappy way to run a business or a country, for that matter. On another note, after being a fan of the Bills through the 70's and 80's (Bruce Mathison under center), being a fan of yours is easy.

Amen. Well stated.

So you don't like polls, thats a pretty extreme poistion, you sure you don't want to just sit back and say something, "yeah go ahead and participate in polls, you andthe rest of the lemmings" or something equally well thoughtout. I am interested in what you next equally contraversial opinion will be ..............perhaps you can say that 'you don't like Mondays".........hey, that could be a song.

I am glad you didn't vote for Bush, clearly I raised you right. Or perhaps you turned out OK in spite of the way I raised you. Still, doing what is right versus what is popular may mean that someone will have to make a decision that may be contrary to the will of the people (that which is popular). Who should make that decision???? If it is going to be made by whoever the current administration may be (Dem, Repub, Libertarian, IBP) it means that someone is making a decision as regards what is best for everybody, regardless how the greater body ploitic may feel. frequently the Dems get bashed for doing such things. Currently it is the Republicans (GW and his cronies) doing that. yet the "hotpockets" Republican crowd here on PPP fail to see that inconsistency (surprise). BTW, my boy, I never said yoiu were one of theose Repubs. You spend far too much time failing to take a stand on anything that would require responsibility for your rants

So direct some of considerableintellect toward the fire, rather than pissing all over people.

And what is "right" is the course of action the US is currently on in Iraq???????????? If we are relying on the likes of GWB and his people to determine what is "right", perhaps we would be better off by doing what is popular. At the rate things are going in Iraq, I am sure it wouldn't be any worse than what is "right". BUt i am sure the people making such decisions know quite a bit more about what is best for people in Iraq than the people in Iraq do. You know, that sounds almost like a Democrat. In fact, that osunds a great deal like what the righties here on PPP say that Democrats do. Isn't it great that both parties really want the same thing??? Perhaps Wacka and Mickey could lead us in a big group hug! Eagerly awaiting a non-substantive, sarcastic reply from the "right".

I am NOT a Scientologist, but I don't beleive Scientology is opposed to the use of medicine,or hospitals, for that amtter. Scientologists don't believe that psychiatry is a valid science, and they believe the use of psycho-active medicines (tranqulizers, anti depressents, anti psychotics, etc) is wrong. This is most likely becuase the founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, was probably a loon himself. I don't believe they have a problem with other medical treatments and medications, but I could be wrong.

I work at the local hospital on St. Croix in the Strategic Planning and Marketing department on an annual contract basis. We are in the midst of developing and constructing a comprehensive cardiac center that will serve a big chunk of the Caribbean. I actually "fell into " the job so to speak. My wife moved here about two years ago to take a job as a faculty member at the University of the Virgin Islands. She is a professor in the Education Department. We get asked this question about "working in paradise" alot by pour frineds and family. In many ways it is a "paradise" (weather, environment, easygoing native lifestyle, etc,), but there are also tmes when it is like living in a third world country. The local government is amazingly corrupt, the public education system would probably not be accepted in any part of the states (not because of the teachers, but mostly because of the local governments oversight), the infrastructure is in rough shape, with inconsistent, high cost energy, and services and goods that are taken for granted in the states just don't exist in many cases. Much of this is not a big deal if you are millionaire snowbird, and there are lots of those. Unfortunately, I am not even close to being one of them. We will probably live here another couple of years (I'd like to see the project I am working on get finished) and then we will head back to the states. It has been quite an experience, one I wouldn't trade for anything, but also one I am not sure I would recommend to most people.

Most of the hotels on the islands have beach access, unless they are right in the middle of any of the small towns / cities (Christiansted, Charlotte Amalie, Fredriksted0 The all inclusive resorts can be expensive, brand name hotels (Westin, etc) will be more expensive. Regardless of where you stay you should probably rent a car. Remember we drive on the left side of the road here. the biggest island is only 5 miles wide at its widest point, so you are never far from the beach. You can stay at some fairly inexpensive places, but some of them are dumps, and not in real safe areas. Budget a least 100 / night per room. Eating out is expensive as well. Some activities are cheap (snorkeling, SCUBA diving), other activities can cost an arm and a leg. It always cheap to drink here, but with kids that may not be your primary activity. Beach access is always free. (with some limited exceptions)

I have lived in the US Virgin Islands for the past year and a half on the island of St. Croix. A good web site for tourists to go to is www.vinow.com. That should serve as a good starting point, with links to other sites. The nicest islands for tourists is probably St. John. It is also the most expensive and hardest to get around. St. Thomas has the most "touristy" things, and is the easiest to get to via air travel or cruise ship. St. Croix is the quietest of the islands and probably the most "run down'. Having said that it is also probably the least expensive to visit, the most relaxing, and the has the most "natural" appeal (except for the oil refinery), and is the largest island. (although none of them are very big) Airfare this time of year is expensive, most flights will go through San Juan, as direct flights from the mainland are less frequent and more costly. It is hard for me to give an objective assessment regarding visting the VI, because living in a place and visiting a place are two very different things. Having said that, there is no bad time to come, the weather is beautiful year round. Today is sunny, gentle breeze, and 85 degrees, just like yesterday, tomorrow, six months ago, and six months from now. Lots of wealthy snowbirds are starting to come here now, so it is a bit more crowded than in the summer months. At the same time, there is more to do now than in the summer. Christmas time is a big deal on St. Croix with a three week long carnival. To those for whom such things are important; no open ontainer laws, tax free liquor, and cigarettes, and duty free jewelry. Spectacular sunsets, blue caribbean water, and its all part of the US, so no passport is needed.

I used to live in Goode's district (southern VA). He could be indicted and still get re-elected with no problem (how dare the mean ole' guvmmint pick on ole' Vurjil!), he has what is essentialy a lifetime seat, more so than most Representatives. He switched parties from (yellow dog) Democrat to Independent shortly after he was elected the first time and then to Republican. Goode's particular pork project with MZM is needed in an area that is dying a slow death with the demise of the textile and furniture industry. While much of Virginia has the among the lowest unemplyment inthe country, many parts of Southern VA has double digit unemeployment numbers, and has had them for a number of years.

It is 85 and sunny here in the Virgin Islands!

Touche, no argument there

As opposed to fitting your ridiculous partisan politics!

That sentence wasn't intended, nor should it be read as an absolute. If we were all to qualify each statement we made here at TBD, most of the posts would be lengthy and unreadable, more so thanthey are now. The fact is, however, is that workers at non union auto plants, mostly operated by Japanese parent companies are paid very similar to those at UAW plants. Given todays problems, those benefits at UAW plants (pensions, medical benefits) may soon be a thing of the past. My brother just retired from Ford (non union position), he is well aware that his pension is bo means certain for the rest of his life, given the problems Ford has. I am not certain, but I am inclined to think the people working at non union auto plants don't worry that much about the fiscal health of their pension plans. When I hear union reps complaining about the long term viability of pensions and retirement health benefits, they spend a lot of time pointing fingers at the mananagement of the company. Unions don't appear to be very pro active these days in looking out for their members. Maybe they did at one time, but that doesn't seem to be what they do these days. I'll re state my position using different terms, having a union position doens't mean you will receive good pay and benefits, nor does it guarantee job security. If a union can't do that, what can it do for its members?????